Grate



(No Model.) I 2 sheets-sheets, E. J. GORDON.

GRATE. No. 501,064.` Patented July 11, 1893.

I ulmlgly: npmmmmggg A, NNIIIINM uf n llllllllV NITED STATES 1 PATENT OFFICE.

ELONSO J. GORDON, OE GREENVILLE, MICHIGAN. i

GRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N o. 501,064, dated July 11, 1893. Application filed September 26, 1892. Serial No..446,907. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ELoNso J. GORDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful JEGrate, of which the following is a specifica- This invention relates to furnace grates; and it has for its object to provide certain improvements in furnace grates which employ hollow blast grate bars.

To this end the invention contemplates a construction of grate surface whereby a complete and powerful draft is secured in order to have as complete combustion of the fuel as possible by combining an ordinary draft with a blast. i

With these and many other objects in View which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed. v

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure I is a top plan view of a furnace grate constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View thereof on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged detail sectional views illustrating the preferred and modied forms respectively, of the meeting connections between the grate members.

Referring to the accompanying drawings A A represent the side walls of an ordinary construction of furnaces, and B represents the usual intermediate bridge wall, directly in front of which and over the ash-pit is supported the grate surface C.

The grate surface C, the component members of which are in the same, or practically thesame,horizontal plane, comprises a parallel series of inclosed hollow blast grate bars D, and a series of intermediate or interposed spacing or draft grate sections E, which latter besides providing means for carrying the usual draft from the ash-pit to the fuel upon the grate, at the same timeserve to suitably space and separate the said hollow grate bars from each other, according to the number required to supply the requisite blast for the advantageous combustion of fuel of such character as is to be used in the furnace. To this end the said open or draft grate sections are of widths suitable to secure the desired separation of the alternating blast grate members. The hollow grate bars D are similarly constructed to the bars illustrated and claimed in my former Patent No. 465,431, and are provided with the valved. blast or tuyere openings F,in the top through which a direct upward blast of compressed air is forced into the 4furnace through the blast pipe G, and connections H, from a suitably located fan or blower attached to G.

The intermediate spacing, open or draft sections E, may be constructed in any suitable form, though the perforated flat blanks illustrated in the drawings are preferred. The complete grate forms an'fu'nbroken and substantially dat surface comprising alternate draft and blast grate bars which combine their respective drafts and blasts to supply the fuel with the requisite oxygen to secure as nearly complete combustion as possible,it being apparent that since the grate surface is a continuous unbroken one and is formed by an alternation of blast and draft grates, a

grate is provided which not only secures an even distributionV of the fuel thereover, but necessarily involves an even distribution of the blast and draft throughout the entire grate surface to secure perfect combustion, which cannot be obtained where grate surfaces are interrupted by deep pockets and other similar features of construction.

In the construction of the above described grate surface, it is essential to success that there be no open spaces between the meeting edges of the blast and draft members thereof.

In case such open spaces are not eectually provided against, the compressed air forcedv into the furnace through the blast outlets or tuyeres will upon encountering the appreciable resistance oered by the fuel upon the grate, be deflected thereby in a downward course between the grate members and into the ash-pit. vAs this deflected current of air would carry with it the llame and intense heat from the furnace it would soon overheat, and burn-out the grate members with which it came in contact. There are three approved modes of practically overcoming this difficulty as follows, inthe order of preference: First, the upper faces of the interposed draft or spacing sections E are slightly depressed, or arranged in a plane slightly below that of the grate bars, so that their side edges are overlapped by the uninterrupted laterally projecting shoulders or ledges I, extending from the top sides of the adjoining hollow grate bars, thus efectually covering and closing in a tight joint the intervening interstices.

.Although the construction described is that preferred by me, to secure the results aimed for, another mode of accomplishing the same result is illustrated in Fig. 4, as the second form. In this form the upper surfaces of the hollow grate bars are provided at their side edges with raised beads or lugs J, a portion of which project beyond the top side edges of the hollow grate bar proper, as illustrated, in such manner as to form ledges which overlap the side edges of the adjoining draft or spacing sections E, thus effect-ually covering and closing the intervening interstices, while at the same time allowing said sections E to be in the same horizontal plane with the hollow bars.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated the third form employed, and in such form the upper faces of the interposed draft or spacing sections, being arranged flush or on a level with the alternating hollow grate bars, the meeting edges of the members are fitted as accurately as practicable, after which, making proper allowance for expansion the whole is erected in such manner that when the heat in the furnace has become sufficiently intense, the usual expansion will serve to close the spaces, or interstices between the meeting members of the grate surface, and prevent the escape of compressed air in a downward direction.

By the construction of grate, in its preferred and modified forms the best results possible are secured, and the same is particularly adapted to secure the necessary combustion when coarse fuel is employed. The many advantages accruing from the use of a grate constructed as herein described, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An unbroken at grate surface composed of alternate blast grate bars, entirelyinclosed and provided with valved blast or tuyere openings in the top, and flat draft bars arranged between the closed hollow blast grate bars and adapted to have their side edges meet the closed sides of said hollow blast grate bars in a closed joint, and to be in line and flush with the top faces thereof, substantially as set forth.

2. A grate composed of a series of alternate hollow blast grate-bars having laterally projecting side ledges, and open or draft bars or plates separating and spacing said hollow blast grate bars, and having their side edges taking under the overlapping side ledges of the same, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELONSO J. GORDON.

Witnesses:

A. C. PHELPs, W. M. CoNovER. 

